Phoenix Fuelmasters Releasing Kwekuteye, Jazul, and Four Others to UFA

SIX Phoenix players led by James Kwekuteye and veteran RJ Jazul will be relegated to unrestricted free agency by the Super LPG Fuelmasters, sources bared on Tuesday. Shortly after Charles Tiu was announced as the new head coach, a rigodon is in the offing for the struggling PBA independent team, from the management group to the players inherited by the concurrent Benilde coach. Sources told SPIN.ph Jayjay Alejandro, Yousef Taha, Sean Manganti and RR Garcia, will also be relegated to the unrestricted free agent list on Wednesday by the team to be backed by Davao-based businessman Glenn Escandor, sources said. READ Charles Tiu formally takes charge as Phoenix coach Jazul and Co., according to sources, have already been kicked out of the team’s Viber and Messenger group chats. The six have also been advised not to report for Phoenix practice, which has been reset to Wednesday instead of Monday following the delay in the announcement of Tiu’s designation, which was originally scheduled on Monday. “Dinelay nila yung announcement. Ewan ko bakit. Pero dapat kahapon pa yan. Dapat nga Friday pa nila gagawin ang announcement para lumamig 'yung nag-leak na info sa inyo,” said a source. The new team backer is the father of Phoenix young guard and former Dela Salle Green Archers gunner Francis Escandor. Another source bared the team's old management team will take a more passive role to give way to a new team official. That’s not all. According to sources, Phoenix, which joined the PBA in 2016 by acquiring the Barako Bull franchise, is determined to rejig its lineup that trades involving Ricci Rivero, Jason Perkins, Tyler Tio and Ken Tuffin are not ruled out. Currently, Phoenix, sources said, is keen on negotiating with Rain or Shine and Titan Ultra for the right of rookie draft picks Joshua David and CJ Austria. Filipino-Italian guard JC Cullar is also set to rejoin the team as a free agent, sources added. Phoenix made the semifinals in the 2023-2024 Commissioner's Cup under Jamike Jarin but has not made the playoffs since. The Super LPG Fuelmasters went 3-8 (win-loss) in their only conference under Willy Wilson. Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.